QSR Claims Pioneering Japanese Software Launch

Melbourne, Australia-based research software developer QSR International will launch what it claims are 'the world's first qualitative research software programs in Japanese', later this year. Japanese versions of the company's flagship NVivo 7 and XSight software are being developed in partnership with Tokyo based Hulinks.

The products already handle data in many languages including Japanese: what's new is the customisable Japanese interface which researchers can use to analyse their information. When managing global projects, they can work in their own language but use the same methodology and process as their overseas colleagues, and open each other's projects regardless of whether they're working in English or Japanese versions of the tools.

Tokyo based Hulinks will also provide training and front line technical support to QSR's Japanese customers.

QSR International CEO John Owen says the programs will be the first of their kind to be localized for an Asian market, and that the company hopes to replicate the partnership in other areas of the Asia Pacific region. 'We know from our own research and sales that our software is changing the way people in Europe, North America and Australasia conduct research. We're now seeing a growing demand for research services and software in Asian markets like Korea, China and Malaysia. This has presented us with an exciting opportunity to grow our export business... We hope Japan is just the beginning.'

Hulinks CEO Haruo Takizawa says the timing of the Japanese release is just right: 'The need for qualitative research is increasing now in Japan because of a dramatic change in the social environment.' Japan has a commercial MR industry worth more than US$1.1 billion (approximately JPY ¥130.2 billion) a year, according to data from ESOMAR revealed at its 2005 Asia Pacific Conference.

Of the two products, NVivo 7 is the more likely to be found in academic settings, designed to handle very rich text based information with deep levels of analysis - users include forensic scientists, psychologists, sociologists and consultants. XSight has more obviously commercial applications, speeding up analysis using a suite of tools that allow researchers to track themes, test theories and map their thoughts easily – it is used to test ad campaigns, for packaging research and for community consultation projects, and does not require specialist skill to use.

QSR International, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner which has won Governor of Victoria Export Awards four times in the past five years, is online at www.qsrinternational.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.